DC-DC converters having improved current sensing and related methods

ABSTRACT

A DC-DC converter includes a chip including an error amplifier, a pulse width modulator (PWM), and an inductor driven by said PWM in series with an output node (V OUT ), wherein a load current flows through the inductor. A circuit for sensing the load current includes a first operational amplifier and a sense resistor having resistance R SENSE ; wherein a sense current related to the load current flows through the sense resistor. A reference resistor has a resistance R REFERENCE  which is a fixed multiple of R SENSE . A set resistor has a resistance R SET . Tracking circuitry sets a voltage across the reference resistor to be equal to a voltage across the set resistor. A function block receives a current through the set resistor and a current through the reference resistor to find their ratio. A current multiplier provides a measurement current which is proportional to the load current divided by R SET .

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisionalapplication Ser. No. 12/409,239 (the '239 application) filed on Mar. 23,2009 (pending), which is a continuation application of U.S.Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/528,256 (the '256 application)filed on Sep. 27, 2006 (abandoned). This application also claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/808,197 (the '197Application) filed on May 24, 2006. The '239 application, '256application, and the '197 Application are incorporated by reference intheir entirety in the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the precise measurement of inductor current,especially for controlling switching in voltage regulator circuits andrelated power circuits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is necessary to accurately measure load current in order toaccomplish control of a variety of devices including electric currentmotors, DC-DC converter circuits and voltage regulator circuits. A knowncircuit 100 for measuring load current via inductor current flow in aDC-DC converter is shown in FIG. 1( a). The portion of circuit 100 tothe right of the vertical dashed line between pins I_(SENSE−) andI_(SENSE+) is typically internal to the IC chip, while the portionincluding the low pass filter comprising inductor L 110 and C_(FILTER)(output capacitor) that is typically external to the IC chip is to theleft of the dashed line between I_(SENSE−) and I_(SENSE+). Externalinductor L 110, with an inductance of L having DC resistance DCR, formspart of the low pass filter network with C_(FILTER) that turns anapplied pulse width modulated input signal, provided by a pulse widthmodulator (PWM; not shown) into a steady state voltage output, V_(OUT),across a load R_(LOAD). A portion of the voltage drop across L 110 isdue to its DC resistance, shown as DCR. A resistor in series with acapacitor, R_(IND) and C_(IND), is shown placed across inductor 110,R_(IND)/C_(IND) providing a time constant that closely matches the timeconstant of L/DCR.

The voltage across C_(IND), shown in FIG. 1( a) as V_(IND), matches thevoltage drop across DCR, and is thus a good indication of inductorcurrent, I_(IND). An operational amplifier, A1, is placed in circuit 100to drive the gate of an Nmos transistor, Q1, whose source connects backto the inverting input of A1 at pin I_(SENSE+). A sense resistor,I_(SENSE) 120, is placed between pin I_(SENSE+) and V_(OUT).

A1's non-inverting input, connected to pin I_(SENSE−), is connected tothe junction between R_(IND) and C_(IND). In this configuration the highgain of A1 drives the voltage at pin I_(SENSE+) to essentially equal thevoltage at pin I_(SENSE−), so that the voltage across capacitor C_(IND)equal to V_(IND) will be placed across R_(SENSE). Q1 will then carry acurrent equal to V_(IND)/R_(SENSE), or I_(IND)*DCR/R_(SENSE). Thiscurrent, I_(SENSE), is available at the Q1's Drain, I_(OUT), and canthen be processed and used for, among other things, over current trip orsetting a regulated output impedance.

Although Q1 is shown in FIG. 1 as being an Nmos transistor, in analternate embodiment it could also be a combination of Nmos and Pmos,with the drain currents combined to form bidirectional current sensing.It could also be only an Nmos or Pmos, with offset current added atI_(SENSE+) and subtracted back out at I_(OUT) to allow bidirectionalcurrent sensing.

The R_(SENSE) resistor and I_(SENSE−) pin can also be connected across asynchronous rectifier FET. In that case the RDS_(ON) of the FET would bethe current sensing element instead of the inductor DCR. Load currentsensing by sampling the voltage across the lower MOSFET r_(DS(ON)) whenthe PWM drives a synchronous rectifier is demonstrated in circuit 140shown in FIG. 1( b). The PWM 150 drives a gate driver 152 which drivesthe upper and lower (synchronous rectifier) Nmos FET's 156 and 157,which in turn drive inductor 160. The amplifier Al is ground-referenceby connecting the ISEN− input to the source of the MOSFET 157. Theinductor current I_(L) flows from Vin through the FET 156 while FET 156is on, and flows from ground while the lower FET 157 is on. The inductorcurrent (I_(L)) therefore causes a voltage drop across FET 157 equal tothe product of RDSon and the inductor current, which is related to theresistance of sense resistor 170 multiplied by the current sensed(I_(SEN)). Specifically, the resulting current into the ISEN+ pin isproportional to the channel current I_(L). The ISEN current is thensampled and held after sufficient settling time as known in the art. Thesampled current can be used for applications including channel-currentbalance, load-line regulation, and overcurrent protection.

R_(SENSE) in Circuits 100 and 140 is placed off-chip because R_(SENSE)needs to be adjustable, such as to get the desired value of I_(OUT) forcircuit 100 for different combinations of DCR and I_(IND). For instance,if I_(OUT) is compared to a fixed value of current inside an integratedcircuit (IC) to generate an over current trip, and the inductor DCR anddesired I_(IND) current trip point are set by system constraints, thenthe value of R_(SENSE) must be adjusted to achieve the desired I_(OUT)at the desired I_(IND). For the reason of required adjustability,R_(SENSE) is therefore generally placed external to the IC as shown inFIG. 1. A second reason that R_(SENSE) is usually placed external to theIC is that most integrated circuit processes do not support an accurateand stable, internal resistor.

A problem with an external R_(SENSE) is the susceptibility of theI_(SENSE+) pin to noise pickup indicated in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) asnoise coupling through parasitic capacitor 130. Referring again to FIG.1( a), noise current that is capacitively coupled to pin I_(SENSE+)appears as the drain current of Q1 including a noise component shown inFIG. 1 as I_(OUT+Noise). Such noise coupling is known to adverselyimpact performance and has required very careful printed circuit boardlayouts to minimize the capacitive coupling at pin I_(SENSE+). It is notgenerally feasible to try to bypass I_(SENSE+), as this would put a polein the feedback of amplifier A1, possibly making A1 unstable.

Thus, there is a need for an improved switching regulator circuit, andspecifically for a current measurement circuit which can be used forprecisely measuring load current in a switching regulator circuit, motorcontroller circuit, or the like, that does not require an external,precise R_(SENSE) at the inverting input of A1 with its attendant noisesusceptibility.

SUMMARY

A DC-DC converter includes a chip including an error amplifier and apulse width modulator (PWM) having an input connected to an output ofthe error amplifier, and an inductor driven by said PWM in series withan output node (V_(OUT)) of the converter, wherein a load current flowsthrough the inductor. V_(OUT) is fed back through a network including afeedback resistor (RFB) to an inverting input of the error amplifier. Acircuit for sensing the load current includes a first operationalamplifier, a sense resistor on the chip having resistance R_(SENSE)coupled to an inverting input of the first amplifier; wherein a sensecurrent related to the load current flows through the sense resistor, adependent current source provides an output current to supply the sensecurrent. A reference resistor is disposed on the chip having aresistance R_(REFERENCE) which is a fixed multiple of R_(SENSE). A setresistor is provided having a resistance R_(SET). Tracking circuitrysets a voltage across the reference resistor to be equal to a voltageacross the set resistor. A function block is coupled to receive acurrent through the set resistor and a current through the referenceresistor to find their ratio. A current multiplier is provided, whereinan output of the function block is coupled to the current multiplier.The current multiplier provides a measurement current which isproportional to the load current divided by R_(SET).

The invention can utilize a variety of circuit arrangements for sensingload current. In one embodiment, inductor DCR sensing is utilized,wherein the converter further comprises a resistor in series with acapacitor placed across the inductor having a time constant designed tomatch a time constant of the inductor and its associated DC resistance(DCR). In another embodiment, MOSFET r_(DS(ON)) sensing is utilized,wherein the converter further comprises a synchronous rectifierconnected between an output of the PWM and the inductor.

The sense resistor and said reference resistor are preferably formedfrom the same material. In one embodiment the converter comprises acurrent mirror having an output connected the inverting input of theerror amplifier and an input for sensing the measurement current, saidcurrent mirror converting said measurement current to a sourcing currentto flowing through RFB to raise a potential of the inverting input ofsaid error amplifier with increases in the measurement current tocontrol output impedance. In another embodiment, the converter furthercomprises structure to compare the measurement current to a fixedreference current and generate and apply a reset signal to the PWM toprotect the PWM from an over current condition. In this embodiment, thestructure to compare can comprise an inverter, an output of the invertercoupled to a reset pin of the converter, wherein if the measurementcurrent is greater than the reference current the PWM becomes disabled.

A method of current sensing in DC-DC converters comprises the steps ofproviding a DC-DC converter chip comprising an error amplifier coupledto a pulse width modulator (PWM) driving an inductor in series with anoutput node (V_(OUT)) of the converter adapted for referenced to groundthrough a load, wherein a load current flows through said inductor.V_(OUT) is fed back through a network including a feedback resistor(RFB) to an inverting input of the error amplifier. A circuit forsensing the load current including a sense resistor is on the chiphaving a resistance (R_(SENSE)) for generating a sense current which isrelated to the load current. A dependent current source supplies anoutput current (I_(OUT)) to supply the sense current. A referenceresistor is disposed on the chip having a resistance R_(REFERENCE) whichis a fixed multiple of R_(SENSE). A set resistor having a resistanceR_(SET) is provided, tracking circuitry for setting a voltage across thereference resistor equal to a voltage across the set resistor is alsoprovided.

A ratio of current through the set resistor and a current through thereference resistor is determined. A measurement current independent ofan actual value of said R_(SENSE) is then determined using the ratio,the measurement current being proportional to the load current dividedby R_(SET).

The circuit for sensing said load current can implement inductor DCRsensing. In another embodiment, the circuit for sensing said loadcurrent implements MOSFET r_(DS(ON)) sensing.

The method can further comprise the step of utilizing the measurementcurrent to provide a fixed output impedance. In this embodiment, theutilizing step can comprise converting the measurement current (which isgenerally a sink current) to a sourcing current, and flowing thesourcing current through the feedback resistor to increase a voltage atthe inverting input with respect to V_(OUT) as the inductor currentincreases.

In another embodiment of the invention the method further comprises thestep of utilizing the measurement current to shut down the PWM if theload current increases beyond a predetermined amount to protect the PWMfrom an over current condition. In this embodiment the utilizing stepcan comprise comparing the measurement current to a predeterminedreference current, and disabling power to said PWM if the measurementcurrent is greater than the reference current. In one embodiment, themeasurement current and reference current are both provided as inputs toan inverter with the inverter output coupled to a reset pin of theregulator, wherein if the measurement current is greater than thereference current the PWM is disabled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the present invention and the features andbenefits thereof will be accomplished upon review of the followingdetailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1( a) is a schematic for a known load current sensing in a DC-DCconverter implementing inductor DCR sensing.

FIG. 1( b) is a schematic for a known circuit for load current sensingin a DC-DC converter implementing r_(DS(ON)) sensing when the PWM drivesa synchronous rectifier.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit according to an embodiment of the inventionhaving an internal sense resistor for measuring the inductor currentflow in a DC-DC converter.

FIG. 3 shows the schematic of an exemplary DC-DC converter that includesa circuit for measuring load current flow using inductor DCR sensingaccording to another embodiment of the invention used to control theoutput impedance of the converter.

FIG. 4 shows the schematic of an exemplary DC-DC converter that includesa circuit for measuring load current flow again using inductor DCRsensing according to yet another embodiment of the invention used toprotect the PWM supply of the converter with an over current tripaction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A circuit according to an embodiment of the invention having an internalsense resistor for load current sensing in a DC-DC converter or otherswitching regulator circuit implementing inductor DCR sensing is shownin FIG. 2. Circuit 200 includes the same circuit elements shown incircuit 100 shown in FIG. 1( a), but adds additional circuitry 250(shown within dashed lines) including reference and tracking circuitrythat enables inductor current through inductor 110 to be measuredindependent of the actual value of R_(SENSE) 120. As with circuit 100,circuit 200 includes a portion typically internal to the IC and aportion typically external to the IC (inductor L 110 and C_(FILTER) aregenerally external to the IC). However, unlike circuit 100 shown in FIG.1, R_(SENSE) is internal to the IC.

Circuit 200 includes a current multiplier 215 in the path of I_(OUT), toform an output current I_(OUT2) which is a multiple of I_(OUT), equal toM*I_(OUT). Circuit 200 places a second resistor, R_(REFERENCE) 220inside the IC. R_(REFERENCE) 220, by reason of placement in proximity tothe location of R_(SENSE) 120 on the chip and being of the sameelectrically conductive material as R_(SENSE) 120, can be made to have aprecisely controlled resistance ratio, K, to R_(SENSE). That is,R_(REFERENCE)=K*R_(SENSE). K can be made independent of processvariation or temperature variation, and can be any convenient value,greater or less than one. Circuit 200 also includes an externalresistor, R_(SET) 235. The voltage on the high potential side of R_(SET)235 is shown coupled to V_(CC) and the low potential side of R_(SET) 235is driven to an arbitrary reference voltage. As shown in FIG. 2, thearbitrary reference voltage on the low potential side of R_(SET) 235 isset by an exemplary circuit comprising a voltage source V1 which iscoupled to the gate of a Pmos source follower, Q2.

As known to those skilled in the art, source and drain electrodes of MOStransistors can interchange roles during operation of the transistor.Therefore, the terms “source” and “drain” as used herein and in theclaims to identify the current-carrying electrode of an MOS transistorare not intended to limit the function performed by the current-carryingelectrode with respect to whether it is functioning as a source or adrain at a particular time in the circuit operation.

Operational amplifier A₂ 250 together with Pmos Q3 255 are connected todrive the low potential end of R_(REFERENCE) 220 so that R_(REFERENCE)220 has essentially the same voltage across it as does R_(SET) 235.R_(REFERENCE) 220 could be driven by other circuitry, such as an NPN/PNPmixed follower, but system accuracy requirements might preclude suchmethods in certain applications. The current from R_(REFERENCE) 220 andthe current from R_(SET) 235 are fed to function block F₁ 260. F1,through well known analog or digital circuitry, can develop a multiplierfactor, M, which is equal to the ratio of current through R_(SET) tocurrent through R_(REFERENCE). Since the currents through resistors thathave equal potentials across them are proportional to the inverse of therespective resistor values, then M is equal to R_(REFERENCE)/R_(SET).Since R_(REFERENCE) equals K*R_(SENSE), then M=K*R_(SENSE)/R_(SET).

As noted above relative to circuit 100 shown in FIG. 1, the outputcurrent I_(OUT) is equal to I_(IND)*DCR/R_(SENSE).I_(OUT2)=M*I_(OUT)=M*I_(IND)*DCR/R_(SENSE). SubstitutingK*R_(SENSE)/R_(SET) for M, then:I _(OUT2) =K*I _(IND) *DCR/R _(SET)  (1)

Significantly, in equation (1) there is no R_(SENSE) term, and I_(OUT2)is only dependent on the value of external circuit elements (L andR_(SET), and the DC resistance of L (DCR)). Therefore, there is norequirement for R_(SENSE) to be accurate. R_(SENSE) 120 only needs to bea fixed ratio (K) relative to R_(REFERENCE) 220, the fixed ratioconveniently being provided by the circuit design. Process (ortemperature) variation in the resistivity of the electrically conductivematerial used for R_(SENSE) and R_(REFERENCE) thus do not affect theaccuracy of the current measurement provided by circuit 200 because ofthe resistor ratioing.

Pmos followers (Q2 and Q3) are shown driving both R_(SET) 235 andR_(REFERENCE) 220, and R_(SET) and R_(REFERENCE) are shown terminated atthe positive supply, VCC. Although shown as Pmos followers, the driverscould alternatively be NMOS or bipolar transistors of either polarity,and the termination could be ground or another supply. If embodied asNMOS driver transistors, the voltage reference V1 driving the gate of Q2would switch polarity and termination appropriately.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, R_(REFERENCE) 220 could be driven by thereference voltage V1 and follower Q2, and R_(SET) can be actively drivenby A2 and Q3. This is generally less desirable, because parasiticcapacitance at R_(SET) places a pole in the feedback of A2 250 which cancause instability for A2.

Circuit 200 can be used to provide improved switching regulator circuitswhich benefit from precisely measured inductor current, such as DC-DCconverters, motor controller circuits, and the like.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show exemplary uses of the sensed current I_(OUT2) withrespect to a pulse width modulated DC-DC converter. FIG. 3 demonstratescontrolling output impedance of the converter, while FIG. 4 showsprotecting the PWM supply with an over current trip action. However, itis noted that the present invention is not limited to pulse widthmodulated DC-DC converters, as it applies to other related devices.Moreover, as noted above, load current sensing circuits other thaninductor DCR sensing-based circuits can be used with the invention. Forexample, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1( b) implementing MOSFETr_(DS(ON)) current sensing can instead be used where the sensingconnections (ISENSE⁻ and ISENSE⁺) are connected to the source of thelower FET (which is grounded) and its drain. Other suitable load currentsensing circuitry can also be used for the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the schematic of an exemplary PWM DC-DCconverter 300 is shown that includes a circuit for measuring inductorcurrent flow according to the invention 310, across pins I_(SENSE−) andI_(SENSE+) of inductor 110 that together with capacitor CF forms a lowpass filter for the load RL. Converter 300 includes an error amplifier350, which compares an applied reference voltage, V_(REF), to theregulated output voltage, V_(OUT). V_(OUT) is fed back to the invertinginput of amplifier 350, node FB, through resistor RFB. There are othercompensation components, RC1 and CC1 coupled between the output node oferror amplifier 350, COMP, and node FB in order to provide a propersystem response. Node COMP drives a pulse width modulator, PWM 360 whichprovides some relationship between its COMP voltage input and the dutycycle output. An ordinary oscillator which provides a clock signal (e.g.sawtooth) to an input of the PWM 360 is not shown. The PWM output signalPWM_(OUT) is low pass filtered by inductor LF 110 and capacitor CF tobecome output voltage, V_(OUT). A typical requirement of a DC-DCconverter is that the regulator have a specified output impedance. Thatis, V_(OUT) must decrease at a fixed rate with respect to increasingload current, I_(LOAD), to provide a fixed specified output impedance.

Circuit for measuring inductor current flow 310 is used in converter 300shown in FIG. 3 to sense the current through LF 110, which as notedabove is essentially the same current, on average, as the currentthrough the load RL. Circuit for measuring current 310 can be embodiedas circuit 200 comprising R_(IND) and C_(IND) across LF 110, togetherwith on chip R_(SENSE) between V_(OUT) and the I_(SENSE+) pin, and theother exemplary circuitry shown attached to the right of pins I_(SENSE−)and I_(SENSE+) together with R_(SET) shown in circuit 200.

The current I_(OUT2) generated by circuit for measuring inductor current310 is applied, with the proper polarity using current mirror 330. Theoutput of current mirror 330 is a sourcing current representation ofI_(OUT2), which flows through RFB, thus increasing the voltage at nodeFB with respect to V_(OUT) as ILOAD increases. Error amplifier 350 thenbrings the voltage at V_(OUT) down so that node FB remains equal toV_(REF), thus providing the desired fixed output impedance.

FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary application for inductor current sensingcircuits according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows the schematic of anexemplary PWM DC-DC converter 400 that includes a circuit for measuringinductor current flow according to the invention 310 used to protect thePWM supply with an over current trip action. As mentioned relative toFIG. 3, circuit for measuring current 310 can be embodied as theexemplary measurement circuitry shown in FIG. 2.

In operation, circuit for measuring inductor current flow according tothe invention 310 disables power to PWM 360 if the load current ILOADincreases beyond a predetermined current level. In one embodiment,inverter 435 is coupled to a reset pin of PWM 360. I_(OUT2) is comparedto a fixed reference current provided, I_(REF). For converters whichrequire the reset pin to be high for normal operation, if I_(OUT2) isgreater than I_(REF), the input of inverter 435 is pulled down, whichresults in the inverter going high and sending a reset signal to the PWM360 which disables PWM 360 and thus protects PWM 360 from an overcurrent condition

There are several significant advantages provided by the invention. Oneadvantage is that R_(SENSE) is on chip resulting in the inverting inputto A1 being an internal node, and therefore shielded from capacitivecoupling of noise. Both I_(SENSE+) and I_(SENSE−) nodes in circuit 200are low impedance, so are less susceptible to noise pickup. Anotheradvantage is that the input from R_(SET), an external resistor, can beDC or a low frequency since it does not affect the bandwidth of the pathfrom I_(SENSE) to I_(OUT2). R_(SET) can therefore be bypassed (bypasscapacitor not shown) to prevent noise pickup.

A further advantage is R_(SET) can be used to control several channelsof I_(SENSE) to I_(OUT2). This saves components compared to using aseparate external R_(SENSE) for every channel. Another advantage is thata thermistor could be used to modify the value of R_(SET) withtemperature, adjusting the gain of I_(OUT2) to match the thermalcoefficient of the inductor DCR. A positive temperature coefficientthermistor (PTC) or a PTC-resistor network could be used to replaceR_(SET). The PTC or PTC-resistor network could be chosen to have thesame temperature coefficient as that of the DCR of the inductor, andwould be placed to thermally track the inductor. As the inductorincreased in temperature and therefore its DCR value, a like increase inresistance of the PTC or PTC-resistor network would decrease themultiplying gain of the sensing circuit, giving a constant ratio ofsensed current to actual inductor current. The thermistor could bebypassed near the IC to prevent noise pickup.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the preferred specific embodiments thereof, that theforegoing description as well as the examples which follow are intendedto illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention. Other aspects,advantages and modifications within the scope of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

1. A power converter having a plurality of channels, the power convertercomprising: a set resistor having a resistance R_(set); and for each ofthe plurality of channels: an error amplifier configured to compare areference voltage to a regulated output voltage; a pulse width modulatorcoupled to the error amplifier and configured to modify the regulatedoutput voltage based on the comparison in the error amplifier; and acurrent sensing element coupled to the pulse width modulator andconfigured to sense a first current; a sense resistor having aresistance R_(sense), the sense resistor coupled to the current sensingelement such that the first sensed current flows through the senseresistor; a reference resistor having a resistance R_(reference) whichis a fixed multiple of R_(sense); and circuitry coupled to the setresistor, the reference resistor and the sense resistor, the circuitryconfigured to produce an output current having a value that isproportional to R_(set) and a fixed ratio between R_(sense) andR_(reference), wherein the circuitry is coupled to the error amplifierto provide the output current to the error amplifier.
 2. The powerconverter of claim 1, wherein the current sensing element for eachrespective channel implements inductor direct current resistance (DCR)sensing.
 3. The power converter of claim 1, wherein, for each of theplurality of channels, the circuitry includes tracking circuitryconfigured to drive the reference resistor such that the voltage acrossthe reference resistor is substantially equal to the voltage across theset resistor.
 4. The power converter of claim 3, wherein, for each ofthe plurality of channels, the circuitry is configured to determine aratio of current through R_(set) to current through R_(reference) and tocombine the ratio of current through R_(set) to current throughR_(reference) with a first measurement current to produce the outputcurrent.
 5. The power converter of claim 3, wherein the trackingcircuitry comprises: a source follower coupled to a low potential sideof the reference resistor; and an operational amplifier having an outputcoupled to a gate of the source follower.
 6. The power converter ofclaim 1, wherein the set resistor comprises a plurality of resistorsincluding one or more thermistors.
 7. The power converter of claim 1,wherein the reference resistor and the sense resistor are comprised ofthe same type of material.
 8. The power converter of claim 1, furthercomprising an inverter coupled to a reset pin of the pulse widthmodulator, wherein if the output current is greater than a referencecurrent the inverter sends a reset signal to the pulse width modulator.9. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising, for each of theplurality of channels, a current mirror coupled between the output ofthe integrated circuit and an input of the error amplifier, wherein thecurrent mirror increases the voltage at the input of the error amplifierbased on the output current such that the power converter provides afixed output impedance.
 10. A device for measuring a load current ineach of a plurality of channels, the device comprising: a set resistorhaving a resistance R_(set); and an integrated circuit coupled to theset resistor; wherein, for each of the plurality of channels, theintegrated circuit comprises: a sense resistor having a resistanceR_(sense), the sense resistor coupled to a respective current senseelement such that a respective first sensed current from the currentsense element flows through the sense resistor; a reference resistorhaving a resistance R_(reference) which is a fixed multiple ofR_(sense); and circuitry coupled to the set resistor, the referenceresistor and the sense resistor, the circuitry configured to produce anoutput current having a value that is proportional to R_(set) and afixed ratio between R_(sense) and R_(reference).
 11. The device of claim10, wherein, for each of the plurality of channels, the sense resistoris coupled to a current sensing element that implements inductor directcurrent resistance (DCR) sensing.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein,for each of the plurality of channels, the circuitry in the integratedcircuit includes tracking circuitry configured to drive the referenceresistor such that the voltage across the reference resistor issubstantially equal to the voltage across the set resistor.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the tracking circuitry comprises: a sourcefollower coupled to a low potential side of the reference resistor; andan operational amplifier having an output coupled to a gate of thesource follower.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein, for each of theplurality of channels, the circuitry in the integrated circuit isconfigured to determine a ratio of current through R_(set) to currentthrough R_(reference) and to combine the ratio of current throughR_(set) to current through R_(reference) with a first measurementcurrent to produce the output current.
 15. The device of claim 10,wherein the set resistor comprises a plurality of resistors includingone or more thermistors.
 16. The device of claim 10, wherein thereference resistor and the sense resistor are comprised of the same typeof material.
 17. The device of claim 10, wherein, for each of theplurality of channels, the sense resistor is coupled to a currentsensing element that implements Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-EffectTransistor (MOSFET) RDS(on) sensing.
 18. A method of measuring a loadcurrent for each of a plurality of channels, the method comprising foreach of the plurality of channels: receiving a respective sensedcurrent; passing the received sensed current through a respective firstresistor having a first resistance; generating a respective firstmeasurement current indicative of the load current from the respectivesensed current based on the first resistance; setting a voltage across arespective second resistor substantially equal to a voltage across athird resistor, the third resistor having a third resistance, whereinthe same third resistor is used for each of the plurality of channels;determining a ratio of current through the respective second resistorand current through the third resistor, wherein each respective secondresistor has a second resistance that is a fixed multiple of therespective first resistance; combining the respective first measurementcurrent with the determined ratio to generate a respective secondmeasurement current indicative of the load current, the respectivesecond measurement current being independent of the respective firstresistance; and outputting the respective second measurement current.19. The method of claim 18 further comprising modifying the respectivesecond resistance to adjust a gain of the respective second measurementcurrent.